CommonHealth Wellnote

October 29, 2024 / Get Well

How can your Virginia State Employee Wellness Program help? CommonHealth’s programs and campaigns cover a variety of health topics and are available in a range of formats to meet the needs of different workplaces. Highly skilled Wellness Consultants provide the latest on stress, sleep, nutrition, exercise and more for faculty/staff meetings, special events, conferences, benefit fairs, safety meetings, lunch and learns, etc. They provide traditional, in-person presentations and displays as well as virtual presentations, on-demand videos and seasonal health-related challenges that are fun and engaging. Visit the website to see how CommonHealth can help you.  If you’re looking to book an event in November or December, connect sooner rather than later to ensure you get a date that works for you.

Click here to view this week’s CommonHealth Wellnote. Check out this week’s highlights below.

Spotlight on Healthcare: October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month
Awareness surrounding breast cancer is incredibly important, as early detection—often through screening—can catch the disease when it is most treatable. According to the American Cancer Society (ACS), except for skin cancers, breast cancer is the most common cancer in American women. The average risk of a woman in the U.S. developing breast cancer sometime in her life is about 12%, or a 1 in 8 chance. Today, there are more than 3.1 million breast cancer survivors in the U.S.

Signs of breast cancer may include:

●      Lump in the breast or underarm (armpit)

●      Redness, scaliness, or thickening of the nipple or breast

●      Swelling or thickening of all or part of the breast

●      Nipple discharge (other than breast milk)

●      Dimpling or skin irritation of breast skin

●      Any change in the size or shape of the breast

●      Localized, persistent breast pain

 


To lower the risk of breast cancer: 

●      Get to and stay at a healthy weight.

●      All women should have a risk assessment at age 30.

●      Be physically active.

●      Limit or avoid alcohol.

●      Women at average breast cancer risk should begin screening, including
mammograms, at age 40.

 

 

Benefits Buzz: Cancer Support
Navigating a cancer diagnosis and treatment can be overwhelming.  All state employee health plans offer a range of support, from experienced cancer navigators to digital information hubs. Contact your plan’s customer service number for specific guidance. The Commonwealth of Virginia Employee Health & Wellness Benefits Guide is a comprehensive guide provided by the Virginia Department of Human Resource Management (DHRM) that outlines the various benefits available to you as a state of Virginia employee. For additional assistance, contact your NOVA HR Benefits team at benefits@nvcc.edu.

Other Helpful Health-Related Resources

  • To learn more about Breast Cancer Awareness, please visit OEWW’s Monday Campaign.
  • In addition, October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Everyone deserves healthy relationships. If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, please reach out for help. The National Domestic Violence Hotline is available 24/7 at 800-799-7233) or by texting “START” to 88788. Assistance is available today.
  • Try this week’s healthy WW recipe: Chicken Parmigiana. WeightWatchers’ healthy version of this Italian classic is a guaranteed family hit. Use high-quality Parmesan cheese for the best flavor. Serve it with roasted broccoli and whole wheat pasta on the side. All benefits-eligible Commonwealth of Virginia employees, spouses and adult dependents (18+) are eligible for the discounted WeightWatchers membership for as low as $9.75 per month.

CommonHealth’s 2024 Turkey Trot Challenge
Keep moving in November with the Turkey Trot Challenge! Get 20 minutes or more of activity during at least 25 days in November to complete the challenge. Register here to join the challenge and receive the official activity calendar for tracking your progress. To learn more about the 2024 Turkey Trot click here. Let’s make November a month of movement!

For questions regarding this week’s communication or the CommonHealth program, please reach out to your respective campus coordinator below:

Pink background and a photo of a pair of pink and white  boxing gloves. Text in black: “CommonHealth Wellnote.”

Submitted by:
Faith Redd-Walker, Office of Employee Wellness and Wellbeing, employeewellbeing@nvcc.edu